Lost in Translation
There I was in the lobby of the apartment block where I live trying to get on-line.
But after several attempts it became clear the wi-fi wasn't working and I decided to give up.
Just then, a Scottish gentleman cameout of the lift, said Hi, and proceded to start unpacking his laptop.
I thought I should tell him there was no wi-fi connection;
"I'm not getting any signal here", I said helpfully.
"What?" says him.
"I say, I'm not getting any signal here." I repeated, helpfully.
"Sorry I only speak English." says he.
I try to repeat myself but he holds his hand up to halt me and says, very firmly;
"I'm sorry, but I only speak English, ONLY English."
And continues unpacking his gear.
I was speechless!
I know I have a bit of an accent but I've never experienced anything like that before.
For those of you who don't know me, I am English.
So I let him continue unpacking all his gear for the no wi-fi.
WTF?
You should've repeated it to him in Italian:
"I ama notte gette any seegnalle here"
PBH
Sorry I don't understand? :p
Call me Maninibat!
in your early days here, got lost in translation LMAO
This just gets better.
mortal_earthling, I am not having a laugh at you so please don't be offended.
What the scottish wear is a Kilt.
Qilt reminds me of quilt, a top cover for the bed with feathers in it.
I have a mental picture of me now sat in the lobby wearing nothing but my bed spread tapping away on my laptop.
ROLF
Please don't think I am correcting you, it was just funny. :)
Call me Maninibat!
Lots of people don't understand that the essence of a language is to communicate. They just don't get it. Wonder why these guys travel anywhere. They should stay put in their village and talk happily to their own people, who may understand every word they speak as it is intended to be understood.
You should watch them stay absolutely calm understanding nothing when someone is freaking out their wife in the next room and she is crying for help in a slightly different accent, due to the pain and all that.
"Life is like a bicycle, if it's too easy - you're probably going down :)"
No problem mate :).
Will check it out tomorrow.
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"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance
even to the hand that crushes it.
PB is from the Ash-hole of the World (as is how others refer to his Kingdom habitat) ;)
Didn't he do well!
wear a qilt and approach him ...
but that was ver funny ,,, i know what u mean JBH... WTF....
Nice one thexonic.
I appreciate that.
Lol Jauntie, I know a few men from the Kingdom. But I like PB. ;p
Call me Maninibat!
'shorrrrrrrrrt errums und deep poooorckets'
But I blame that on Harry Lauder (can't spell ) and his 'tight fisted Jock' Jokes :D
I had to stop PB buying the Big Issue on a daily basis lol
lol JBH im not moving into urs either, just sayin i can hook u up with internet at ur place.
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"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance
even to the hand that crushes it.
So PB is from the Kingdom?
I thought he was very generous, so much for steryotypes.
[I spelt that wrong didn't I]
Call me Maninibat!
love it!
Last time we were in my hub's hometown in Fife (Scotland) I had to translate some things for him when people spoke to him, so out of touch is he with the guttural Scots accent of his birth place!
Made me laugh !
Oh go on, you can have the top bunk.
Call me Maninibat!
I never got to talk to you did I Owen?
Sorry about that, I wasn't being rude.
We'll talk next time if that's ok?
Call me Maninibat!
lol ur not moving into my house, i will jsut tell u how to get wifi up to urs.
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"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance
even to the hand that crushes it.
JBH now at least i know that you are ENGLISH..
you got a jerk there.. hmmmmm, actually we got a lot around us.. :P
[img_assist|nid=12867|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
I had this a couple of times in States... speaking in my best plum BBC accent and not guttural Mancunian....
A hotel chain in Miami put the phone down on me because i was intelligible.
And may the Lord help any American that says my accent is cute.......oh dear
PM that is just silly..... all African English/French I have come across is fine... not an issue.
The most difficult Spanish accent is Cuban...
English: Geordie, some Scousers, Some real highlanders, some folk from the sub-Contitnent.
Great news thexonic.
When am I moving into your house?
Call me Maninibat!
I might have a solution for your wifi problem JBh
Will discuss it with u sometime.
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"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance
even to the hand that crushes it.
Cheers Oryx girl, gud to ear fromyarragen. Ows it going der like? Cushty?
Call me Maninibat!
You have to be there to experience how they speak in Gibralta.
It is a big mix with the odd word you understand, and many that you can't.
Well I can't anyway.
Call me Maninibat!
He looked a bit embarresed when I walked away and said.
"Here you go Mate, you can use this desk if you want, see you later."
It was funny though.
Call me Maninibat!
Gibrish actually exsits OMG
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"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance
even to the hand that crushes it.
Whoever he was he was not representing Scotland well and extremely rude into the bargain - I don't understand that attitude at all.
JBH - you have a trace of an accent it isn't THAT strong.... having lived where you are from......your accent is mild.
I am sorry that such a decent gentleman as yourself got this attitude...
you know maybe he was an orphan brought up in a place that was short staffed...?
I got it that time Canary Bird, something about wi-fi?
[Oh I'm going to get told off now]
Call me Maninibat!
I've heared Gibbrish, in Gibralta, it really is wierd.
Mixture of Spanish, English and whatever it is they speak in North Africa.
Call me Maninibat!
If he is Scottish he doesn't speak English let alone understand it and the Wi-Fi might have meant something else to him.
Sorry to hear that man... i mean LAD :P, the guy probably spoke gibrish :P
Dont take these kind of people seriously lol.
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"Be Like a Flower, Which gives off it's fragrance
even to the hand that crushes it.
Sorry Canary Bird, I didn't understand that, can you repeat please? ;p
Call me Maninibat!
I do try to speak clearly whith people who have English as thier 2nd, 3rd, 4th language, so maybe I over relaxed when I was talking to him.
It might have came out like this;
"Eh Mate, M'noh gerrin azignel ere, like, la"
Call me Maninibat!
Hehehe u gotta love the scots with the accent tht they have, He actually couldnt understand ur "English" accent ... Poor U !!!
As he was Scottish he hardly spoke English and so thus did not understand English. Being Scottish myself ........................
Live and Die with DIGNITY!
-JaYTeR-
i can understand you feelings
YOU DONT KNOW ME, DONT EVEN TRY !!!
[img_assist|nid=92055|title=BE HAPPY|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=|height=0]
"I'm not getting any signal here"
Replace 'not' with 'nah' and add 'Jimmy' on the end.
"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365
not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the
many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers
were given. Satan - 10."
hahahaha sorry this happened with you mate, dont worry i can understand you
Everybody is right Everybody is wrong, it depend where we stand.